Welcome to the 'Circles-of-Life' bicycle* tours

      The  Circles-of-Life bicycle and walking* tours are spin-offs of an on-site history tour of  Stanford Children's hospital.  The tours are based on a collection of 365 pictures highlighting the history of the hospital, and by extension the histories of Stanford University, Palo Alto, Silicon Valley and Northern California.  The tag line of the tours is: 'Four Women, a Supernova, and a House'.

  All the tours proceed from garden to garden, and the various gardens represent chapters in the Children's Hospital story.  The pictures in the photo gallery above are from stops on the in-house tour. The three-part 'bicycle' or 'walking*' versions of the tour include stops along seperate loops adjacent to the Children's Hospital. The stops are often where events in the story actually happened!

     The bicycle and walking* tours are currently free while they are iin a 'dress-rehearsal' testing phase. Several e-bikes and helmets are available for guests on the bicycle tours, however guests are encouraged to bring their own bikes and helmets.  Pedal bikes are fine.  Each of the bicycle, or walking, tour 'chapters' lasts one & a half hours. 

     The first 'chapter' of the tours is 'Life on the Little Frisco'.  It covers the period  from 1492 to 1884, with emphasis on the life of Leland Stanford Jr.. 

    The second 'chapter' is 'For the Children of California', It chronicles the early years of Stanford U, from 1884 to 1919.

    The third 'chapter', 'Circles of Life', outlines the history of the Children's Hospital from 1919 to the present. 

      There is a bonus sequel to the third chapter that features three correlated local historical marvels.

      All the tours start and end at the 'Center of Academic Medicine' courtyard across the street from the Children's hospital. Parking is avaiilable at the Stanford Mall a block away.

       All the tours include a couple light snacks that are intended to accentuate critical aspects of the tours. Vegetarian/non-lactose alternatives to  snacks are provided.

     Currently the tours are being held from 3:00PM to 4:30PM on Wednesdays and Saturdays.  However, during the 'dress rehearsal' period, if any group of three or more guests would like to come on one of the tour 'chapters', another time can be arranged.  The maximum tour group size is ten persons- (with two picture-books being displayed simultaneously).

      The tour is led by an 'interpretive ranger', who either walks, or rides the 'Red Hare' bicycle,- a bike-plus-trailer that is named after the legendary Chinese war horse. The trailer supports a tripod for displaying pictures.  It also contains props, such as 'gold' nuggets, and snacks, 

Children are welcome on either the bicycle tours or walking tour, however please be advised that there are some sad and frightening descriptions during the tour that are omitted from the in-house tour, (where the 'D-word'  topics- 'death' and 'despair'- are omitted).

    There are several stops on both the bicycle, and walking,  tours that entail a brief walk on dirt or climbing stairs, so sturdy shoes are recommended.    

      Based on the results and feedback of the 'dress rehearsals' of the tour, a possible ultimate use for the tour could be to help fund the operation of the new Palo Alto Museum that is currently under development. 

  The bicycle tour is a totally independent initiative  from Stanford Children's Hospital and is in no way associated with the Children's hospital.   Guests will be asked to sign a waiver acknowledging they understand that.  

    And now for the fun part.....'Pirates, True Love, Murder, Gold, and Vitamin C!'....  We hope to see you soon one of the gardens-and-pictures tours.